WATCH ABOVE: It’s almost flu season but if you’ve noticed your kids are already a little sniffly you might want to keep a closer eye on them. There’s an increasing number of people falling sick with a new strain of flu. Rachel Lau has more.
MONTREAL – Believe it or not, flu season is just around the corner.
Some worried parents are already lining up their children to get flu shots, but for some viruses, like the Human Metapneumovirus, which affects the respiratory system, there is no vaccine.
That’s worrying for some doctors.
“It causes a wide range of disease, like all respiratory viruses,” said Dr. Jesse Papenburg, a Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist.
“Anywhere from the common cold to more severe pulmonary viruses that require hospitalization.”
It’s a strain that was detected in 2001, and is especially dangerous for children or people with pre-existing health conditions.
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“There’s not much that we can do for prevention of Human Metapneumovirus – or most respiratory viruses,” said Papenburg.
“We know there are more people at risk for having more severe diseases.”
Info-Santé has already reported it’s getting more calls than usual about alarming flu-like symptoms and emergency rooms in the city are bursting at the seams.
According to Papenburg, 10 per cent of the children in hospital right now are being treated for the virus.
One of the symptom of Human Metapneumovirus is difficulty breathing.
“It can lead to pneumonia and bronchiolitis is the more common manifestation in kids,” he said.
“It’s blocking of their smaller airwaves that gives them difficulty breathing and that can require either oxygen support or more evasive mechanical ventilation.”
Some Montrealers say they’re surprised.
They say this is the first time they’ve heard anything about the virus.
“Is this really happening again?” asked Aviva Leibovitch.
“How many viruses do we need?”
As always, experts says the best prevention is good hygiene.
“Wash your hands, cough in your sleeve if you have to cough, or in a handkerchief,” said Renée Paré.
“Those are the main ones – good sleep, good alimentation, you really have to take care of yourself.”
Public Health Officials says researchers are working on a vaccine, but with the constant mutation of these types of viruses, it’s difficult to keep up.
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